The View from the Sled During an Olympic Luge Run

Luge is one of the most intense events at the Winter Olympics. A rider (or two, if it's a doubles team) lies flat on a light, aerodynamic sled, then propels themselves down a fast, treacherous track, reaching speeds as high as 90 miles per hour. And the only protection lugers have is a helmet.

Watching a luge run on TV can be exciting, but it doesn't compare to seeing it from the point of view of a a rider going down the track. And thanks to US luge doubles Olympian (and Army sergeant) Matthew Mortensen, we can have that experience from the safety of our computers. Mortensen attached a GoPro camera to his helmet during a practice run in Sochi, and the result is pretty intense.




What do you think: After watching this video, would you want to take a run down a luge track? Let us know in the comments section below!


Photo: Matthew Mortensen (11) and Preston Griffall in action during the Men's Double Luge training session at Sliding Center Sanki at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, 09 February 2014. (EPA/Tobias Hase /LANDOV)